Prayers for the Benefice
Each week we join our Baptist friends in praying for a local road or street.
Flowerdale Road in Watchet
Kebby's Farm Close in Williton
Pray for God’s blessing on those who live there.
Prayers for the People of Ukraine
We pray for peace
You can also find a Youtube video of Bishop Michael talking about his role at the coronation on the
Bath and Wells website (www.bathandwells.org.uk)
The Collect
O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your Kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
Mental Health First Aid
We are fortunate enough to have a Mental Health
First Aider on the ministry team. Our Reader and
Lay Pioneer Donna was recently selected to take
part in this very important training. Mental health
concerns many in our communities and we are
fortunate that training is available to further raise
awareness.
Today’s Worship and Readings
9.15am Parish Communion at St Peter’s
10.45am Parish Communion at St Decuman’s
(followed by Annual Church Meetings)
Readings: Acts 1: 6-14 John 17: 1-11
Are you a Pioneer?
The recruitment drive is now on for the next cohort of
Pioneer students within Bath & Wells. If you think that
you might be searching for something that will
challenge your creativity in the way that you do church
and want to discover more about your own personal
relationship with God, this might just be for you.
Time is ticking so either apply direct via the Diocesan
website or speak to Donna and Julie and we can have a
chat about what it is to be a Pioneer for today's church.
Ascension Day (Latin ascendare – to go up) last Thursday marked the end of the ‘Great Forty Days’ since Easter,
during which the risen Christ appeared to his disciples many times, culminating in his ascension to heaven. Now
we look forward to celebrating his gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (next Sunday). As Head of the Church and
our great High Priest, Christ prays for us always. One day all will call him ‘Lord’.
Both churches will usually be open
every day during daylight hours.
Feeling Creative?
It’s not too late to let Mark have your ideas for a benefice logo.
Something that can be used to identify who we are on our website and
social media, and also for letterheads etc. Suggestions have included
the Watchet lighthouse ‘as a beacon of light’ or Celtic crosses.
For inspiration, just search different churches on the internet to see
what others have come up with.
Next Sunday – 28th May
9.15am Parish Communion at St Peter’s
10.45am Parish Communion at St Decuman's
Dates for the week ahead
Monday 22nd May 7.00pm Fundraising meal for Heart for India at the Spice Merchant – see page 2
Tuesday 23rd May 9.30am Little Saints at the Meeting Room, Williton
Wednesday 24th May 10.00am Little Saints at the Salvation Army Hall, Watchet
Thursday 25th May 10.00am CAMEO at St Peter’s
Saturday 27th May 10.00am Flutes rehearse at Holy Cross
Prayers
We are holding in our thoughts and prayers: Jane D,
Janet S, Sara S, Peter B, Alice, Naomi L, Edna S, Jackie W and Michael F,
Keith W
If you would like to be included on the Prayer List, please let Mark, Sarah or Sue know..
Quantock Deanery Prayer Diary - Every day of the month we pray for different people in our Deanery
Watchet and Williton Benefice
21st The people and parishes of Watchet and Williton; Little Saints parent and toddler groups and Camp Fire Church in Watchet and Williton
22nd Mark Phillips (Vicar); Jane Sperring (Methodist), Mike Sherburn (Baptist), Sam Searle (Salvation Army), Vincent Woods (Roman Catholic)
23rd Julie Pelling (Ordinand), Donna Marsden (Reader)
24th Andrew Tatham, Richard Allen (Retired clergy)
25th Danesfield C of E Middle School, Knights Templar C of E & Methodist First School, St Peter’s C of E First School
Chaplaincies
26th The staff and visitors to Great Wood Camp, Patrick Weld (Chaplain)
27th The employees and contractors at the three Hinkley Point Power Stations (A, B, and C), Ewen Huffman (Chaplain to HPC) and volunteer chaplains
The Benefice of Watchet and Williton
Sunday 21st May 2023
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
‘Sunday after Ascension Day'
A commitment to serve
‘Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we
welcome you in the name of the King of kings’. In
reply to these opening words at his Coronation, King
Charles III responded ‘In his name and after his
example I come not to be served but to serve.’ This3
short exchange summed up what the service was
about and what it intended to convey.
The King’s commitment to service is not in any
doubt. To give just a few examples, he has engaged
with our most challenged communities far more
than any politician, he called on us to care for the
environment years before it became popular to do
so and, of course, founded The Prince’s Trust, which
supports our most challenged younger people in so
many ways.
He becomes king of a new era, the Carolean era. Our times see us face some big challenges. Our question is how to
address them. I was immensely struck by all the agencies and charities present in the Abbey for the King’s Coronation.
Their participation spoke of the ways in which we’re going to need to act differently in the years ahead to address the
issues that confront us.
Because it’s all too evident that the power of government, be that local or national, to respond to the problems we see is
less now than it was when the late Queen began her reign. Our challenge in this era is of how we’re going to come
together, in service, to address the different challenges that lie before us, be that the climate, how we tackle poverty,
how we respond to a troubled international situation. All of us will have a part to play.
Where to find the resource to act in the way that’s going to be needed? As I stood beside the King at the Coronation
what inspired me was to see the way he drew so much strength, purpose and resolve and assurance from his Christian
faith for the service he’s called to give. And in that we can follow him too.
Bishop Michael
BENEFICE TEAM INFORMATION
Please contact your churchwardens with enquiries about baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc. and any member of the Benefice team is happy to be contacted with general enquiries, requests for prayers, etc.
Benefice Team:
Revd Mark Phillips Vicar Tel: 01984-639669 email: revdmarkphillips@outlook.com
George Fenech Churchwarden St Peter’s Tel: 01984-633577 email: georgefenech44@gmail.com
Sue Withycombe Churchwarden St Peter’s Tel: 01984-632596 email: withysue10@gmail.com
Sarah Lander Churchwarden St Decuman’s Tel: 07765-881229 email: sclarkelander@gmail.com
Janet Bremner Churchwarden St Decuman’s Tel: 01984-632118 email: janetbremner31@btinternet.com
Julie Pelling Ordinand Tel: 07973-961083 email: julie@nickandju.plus.com
Donna Marsden Reader Tel: 01984-633707 email: donnamarsden01@yahoo.co.uk
Benefice Website: www.watchetandwillitonbenefice.com
Facebook Pages: www.facebook.com/StPetersChurchWilliton
Our Benefice Safeguarding Officer: Tracey Gullis who can be contacted by telephone: 07361-811707
& by email: safeguardingstdecsstpeters@gmail.com